Recruiting bios: Clemson’s Class of 2020 football signees

Wednesday marked the first day of college football’s early signing period.

Note: All star ratings are based off the 247Sports Composite that factors in all major networks’ rankings.

Bryan Bresee, DT

Five stars | 6-5, 290 | Damascus, Md.

The top-ranked player in the nation for the class of 2020, Bresee had 47 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks as a senior. He committed to Clemson in April after being recruited by defensive tackles coach Todd Bates.

Sergio Allen, LB

Four stars | 6-1, 217 | Fort Valley, Ga.

The team captain and MVP of his Peach County High team, Allen had 74 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks as a senior. He will play in the Under Armour All-America game.

John Williams, OL

Three stars | 6-5, 270 | Canton, Ga.

A two-time first-team All-State selection, Williams was a three-year starter. He was recruited to Clemson by Robbie Caldwell and Brandon Streeter and will enroll in school this summer.

E.J. Williams, WR

Four stars | 6-3, 188 | Phenix City, Ala.

The top receiver in Alabama, Williams played at the same high school as current Tigers star Justyn Ross. He had 44 catches for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. Williams was recruited by Jeff Scott but held firm after the Clemson co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach left to be the head coach at USF.

Demarkcus Bowman, RB

Five stars | 5-10, 191 | Lakeland, Fla.

One of the top running backs in the nation, Bowman chose the Tigers over in-state Florida. The consensus five-star back rushed for 1,570 yards while averaging 11.1 yards per carry as a senior.

DeMonte Capehart, DT

Five stars | 6-5, 295 | Bradenton, Fla.

Capehart spent three years at Hartsville High in South Carolina before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his final season. He started all 10 games his senior season and led IMG Academy with 16 tackles for loss.

Myles Murphy, DE

Five stars | 6-5, 260 | Powder Springs, Ga.

The top defensve end in the country, Murphy had 19 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks as a senior. The consensus five-star recruit will play in the All-American Bowl.

Bryn Tucker, OL

Four stars | 6-5, 305 | Knoxville, Tenn.

Name is pronounced BRINE. Will play in the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2. Went to same high school (Knoxville Catholic) as current Clemson receiver Amari Rodgers.

Tre’ Williams, DT

Four stars | 6-2, 306 | Washington D.C.

Will play in Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2. Ranked as the No. 39 overall player in the nation by ESPN.com, which also listed him as the fourth-best defensive tackle and third-best player in Maryland. Helped St. John’s College High to 9-1 record in 2018 and top-20 national rank as a starting defensive tackle.

Tyler Venables, ATH

Three stars | 5-10, 191 | Central, SC

Son of Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and brother of Tigers linebacker Jake Venables. Played quarterback for nearby Daniel High School but is expected to play safety at Clemson. Was Daniel’s career passing yardage leader with 6,927 yards — totaled 73 touchdown passes and 38 rushing touchdowns in three years as a quarterback. Daniel also produced Clemson All-Americans DeAndre Hopkins, Shaq Lawson and Kyle Young.

Fred Davis, DB

Five stars | 6-0, 192 | Jacksonville, Fla.

Consensus top-60 player nationally. Will play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 4. Posted 101 tackles in 37 career games, adding four interceptions, 30 passes defensed, two caused fumbles and a blocked kick at Trinity Christian Academy. Played some quarterback as a senior.

Trenton Simpson, LB

Four stars | 6-3, 224 | Charlotte, NC

Will play in Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2. Considered by most rankings as the top player in the state of North Carolina for this recruiting cycle. Was originally committed to Auburn. Led the Mallard Creek High defense this year with 20 sacks. Also 44 carries for 371 yards and six touchdowns.

Kobe Pryor, RB

Three stars | 5-10, 205 | Cedartown, Ga.

Has played football, basketball and baseball at Cedartown High School. Averaged over 7.0 yards per attempt in his career as a running back. As a senior he had 1,471 yards rushing in 211 carries. Added 25 receptions for 358 yards for 1,829 total yards from scrimmage. Had 12 touchdowns rushing, two receiving and two on kickoff returns. Also completed 3-of-4 passes for 100 yards and two scores.

Kevin Swint, LB

Four stars | 6-2, 243 | Carrollton, Ga.

Four–year starter who recorded 41.5 career sacks among his 359.5 tackles. Two-time all-state selection. Was a High School Butkus Award semifinalist along with Clemson signee and classmate Sergio Allen. As a senior at Carrollton High, recorded 103 tackles, including 26.5 tackles for loss, including 12.5 sacks.

Malcolm Greene

Four stars | 5-10, 180 | Highland Springs, Va.

Originally committed to LSU. Played on 5A state championship teams in Virginia as a sophomore and junior. Played for Loren Johnson at Highland Springs High School in Virginia, the same program that produced Clemson All-ACC safety K’Von Wallace.

RJ Mickens, DB

Four stars | 6-0, 197 | Southlake, Texas

Son of former NFL player Ray Mickens Sr. Will play in the All-American Bowl. Considered among the top defensive backs in the nation. Played safety and receiver at Southlake Carroll High but is slated to play safety at Clemson. For his career as four-year starter, recorded 211 tackles, eight interceptions and 40 passes defensed. Added 61 receptions for 1,092 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Trent Howard, OL

Three stars | 6-4, 283 | Birmingham, Ala.

Played all five positions on the line at Briarwood Christian High School. Originally committed to Georgia Tech. His father, Johnny, was a teammate of Dabo Swinney at Alabama, including during its 1992 national championship season.

Sage Ennis, TE

Three stars | 6-4, 220 | Tallahassee, Fla.

Spent time at defensive end, quarterback and tight end during high school but will focus on tight end for the Tigers. Ennis had 40 catches for 560 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior. He earned an offer during a camp at Clemson this summer and committed to the Tigers shortly after.

Tanner Tessman, PK

6-2, 183 | Birmingham, Ala.

Tessman did not play high school football but is a soccer star. He will play both sports for the Tigers and his scholarship will count towards football. Tessman is rated as one of the top 25 soccer players in the country.

Walker Parks, OL

Four stars | 6-5, 275 | Lexington, Ky.

A unanimous top-100 player nationally, Parks did not allow a sack in 15 games as a senior. Parks is the first player to sign with Clemson from Kentucky since Justin Miller in 2002.

Paul Tchio, OL

Four stars | 6-5, 299 | Milton, Ga.

The All-American Bowl selection played on the offensive line and defensive line as a senior at Milton High but will play on the o-line for the Tigers. Tchio had 113 pancake blocks as a junior.

Mitchell Mayes, OL

Four stars | 6-4, 306 | Raleigh, NC

Ranked as the second-best offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com, Mayes was a four-year starter for the Tigers. Mayes was selected to the Under Armour Game and the Shrine Bowl.

DJ Uiagalelei, QB

Five stars | 6-5, 243 | The Inland Empire, Calif.

The top quarterback in the county according to multiple recruiting sites, Uiagalelei led St. John Bosco High to a 13-1 record and state championship as a senior. He passed for 410 yards and four touchdowns in the state title game and added a rushing touchdown. During his senior year he passed for 4,225 yards, 48 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ajou Ajou, WR

Three stars | 6-4, 220 | Brooks, Alberta, Canada

The first Clemson football signee from Canada, Ajou had 39 catches for 686 yards and seven touchdowns this season. At 6-foot-4, Ajou is the same size as current Tigers stars Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross.

This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 8:36 AM.